Page 91 of Prince of Control

My plan is still to go in stealth to get her out. According to Dima’s reconnaissance, we’re outnumbered four to one.

“I’ll go in with you.” Adrian snaps his own Kevlar in place.

“No. I go in solo. You only come if I fail.”

Adrian’s upper lip curls in a snarl. I’m sure that look makes men piss themselves in fear when he’s torturing them. He’s got the tough guy air, for sure. There’s more street in him. He’s less refined than my dad and the rest of the Chicago Bratva. Despite having a wife and daughter, he seems hardened by running a crime ring in Russia. “This is not your operation.”

“The fuck it’s not.” It’s no way to talk to my father-in-law, but I don’t care. “She’s my wife. I’m going in to get her. Hopefully without starting a war.”

Adrian glowers at me. I’m sure he’s deciding whether to snatch the hair right off my balls.

One of his men hands me a comms unit, and I pop it in my ear. “Testing.”

Dima’s voice sounds in my ear. “You’re all set. The security system is down. I have eyes on all the cameras and can talk you in.”

I swing the van’s back door open and drop softly to my feet. “I’m going now,” I mutter.

“The back entrance is on the east side,” Dima says.

I hug the block wall and head east, not waiting to see if Adrian will follow.

“I’m unlocking the gate there. There’s one guard inside the guard booth scrolling on his phone.”

The wrought-iron gate barring cars from entering softly unlatches as I walk up.

Thank you, Dima.

I palm the pistol in my right hand and push the gate open with my left just enough to slip through. I stay in the shadows, keeping my gun pointed at the guy in the booth, but he never looks up.

“Stay close to the shrubbery until you get to the house, then take a right to go through the gate there into the walled garden. There’s a security guy just inside.”

I slink into the garden and look around. A small orchard with walking paths and benches lies in front of me. There’s a security guard patrolling at the opposite end.

“First door on your left. I’m opening the lock now.”

I keep my gaze and gun pointed at the security guard as I slip through the open door, but he doesn’t look over. Part of me is almost sorry. I wanted blood tonight.

But Lara’s safety is all that matters. Until I have her secure, I need to be cautious.

“There aren’t any cameras in the residence, so you’re going blind now.”

“I got it from here,” I say. I memorized the floor plans. I know all the routes that lead to the master bedroom. There’s a back staircase this way.

I round the corner and come face to face with an armed guard.

Fuck.

I shoot before he can react. He goes down in a silent heap. Thank fuck for silencers.

Now I have to move fast before someone discovers him.

“I heard a shot,” Adrian says. “Report.”

“I killed a guard,” I mutter.

I find the stairs and take them two at a time. There’s another guard at the top. A single bullet puts him down, too.

“Another guard,” I report before Adrian asks.